Toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush head comprising three widthways adjacent sections in which the tip end of the middle section is enlarged into a bristle-carrying tip pad, there is an intermediate bristle-carrying pad between the tip pad and the base end of the head, with narrow link regions between the pads and the intermediate pad and the handle. The sections are connected to the toothbrush handle by flexible necks. The bristle distribution of a multi-section toothbrush head is thereby optimised.

This invention relates to toothbrush heads, in particular to toothbrushheads comprising plural sections which can bend under the pressures oftoothbrushing. The invention also relates to a toothbrush provided withsuch a head.

Toothbrushes generally comprise a grip handle by which a user may holdthe toothbrush and a bristle-carrying head, the head and handle beingdisposed along a longitudinal head-handle direction. Sometimes the headis replaceably connectable to the handle. Normally there is a neckbetween the head and the grip handle, being narrower than the adjacentpart of the head and handle. The head has a tip end remote from thehandle and a base end closest to the handle and the neck is joined tothe head at the base end of the head. The junction between the base endof the head and the neck is generally marked by an inflexion point, i.e.a point of sharpest curvature between the head and the neck as seen inplan looking down along the bristles carried by the head, oralternatively by for example the edge of the pattern of bristle tuftsclosest to the handle.

In toothbrushes, as is well known, the head and grip handle are disposedso define a longitudinal direction (which need not be a straight line)between them, with a width direction perpendicular to this longitudinaldirection. Bristles (the term encompasses other dental cleaning elementssuch as elastomer lamellae or fingers) extend from the head in a bristledirection generally perpendicular to the longitudinal and widthdirections. The head has a tip end furthest from the handle, and alongitudinally distanced base end closest to the handle and defined byhe end of the bristle cluster and/or by an inflexion point in the shapeof the head.

It is known to provide the head in the form of plural, particularly twoor three, longitudinally elongate sections disposed widthways adjacentacross the toothbrush head and being flexibly linked to the handle. Aproblem associated with known toothbrushes of this type is optimisingthe bristle distribution to improve cleaning.

For example U.S. Pat. No. 1,323,0152 discloses a toothbrush headcomprising three flexible sections, the middle section being widened toform a pad adjacent the tip of the head and which extends across theentire width of the toothbrush head adjacent to the tip end, but havinga relatively narrow “stalk” linking this pad to the handle. U.S. Pat.No. 440,404 and U.S. Pat. No. 1,536,446 disclose toothbrushes with theirheads comprising three sections, each linked to the grip handle by itsown respective flexible neck, but each section being narrow relative tolength. U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,676 discloses a head in the form of threesections comprising a middle section laterally flanked by two outersections, the ends of the outer sections remote from the handle forminga partial ring around the end of the middle section, the middle sectionhaving bristles only in a small tuft at its end. U.S. Pat. No.44,152,853 discloses a toothbrush comprising three widthways adjacentflexible necks each having a bristle carrying pad at its extremityremote from the handle, but this results in a head which isdisproportionately wide relative to its length.

WO-A01/89344, FR-A-2548528 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,1521 disclose headscomprising two such sections.

The purpose of such toothbrush heads comprising side by side sectionsflexibly linked to the handle so as to bend in response to toothbrushingpressures is to improve the ability of the head to adjust to the profileof the teeth, to improve the effectiveness of the head in reaching gapsbetween the teeth, particularly to achieve this improvement withoutapplication of excessive brushing pressures to the teeth, to distributebrushing pressures between the teeth and gums, and to allow a flow ofwater through the head so that the head may be thoroughly cleaned of forexample excess toothpaste, debris etc. after use.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved toothbrush ofthe above-mentioned type, particularly aiming at providing an improveddistribution of bristles on the head. Other objects and advantages ofthis invention will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention a toothbrush head is provided, beingconnected or connectable at its base end to a toothbrush grip handle tothereby define a head-handle longitudinal direction, and comprisingthree widthways adjacent, longitudinally extending sections from whichbristles extend, being a middle section and a lateral section on eachwidthways side of the middle section, one or more section beingresiliently flexibly connected or connectable to the grip handle,characterised in that:

the end of the middle section adjacent to the tip end of the head isintegrally widthways enlarged relative to the part of the middle sectionlongitudinally adjacent nearer to the handle to provide abristle-carrying pad adjacent to the tip end of the head and whichextends across the entire width of the toothbrush head adjacent to thetip end,

the middle section comprises an intermediate bristle-carrying pad, beinga region of maximum width of the part of the middle section between thetip pad and the base end of the head,

with a first link region of the section between the tip pad and theintermediate pad being narrower in width than the adjacent part of thetip pad and the intermediate pad,

and a second link region of the section between the intermediate pad andthe handle being narrower in width than the adjacent part of theintermediate pad.

Preferably the head comprises only three such sections, i.e. a middlesection and two lateral sections. Preferably two or more, preferably allof the sections, are resiliently flexibly connected to the grip handleso that the section may be resiliently bent out of a plane parallel tothe longitudinal and width directions under the action of pressure onthe bristles.

Preferably there is only one intermediate pad, only one first linkregion and only one second link region.

Typically the tip pad may be approximately of equal dimensions in thewidthways and longitudinal directions, e.g. being approximatelycircular, semi-circular, rectangular or polygonal. Typically in itslongitudinal direction such a tip pad may have a length of ca. 10-50%,e.g. 20-30% of the toothbrush head between its base and tip ends.

Typically such a tip pad may be of a size suitable to carry a polygonalcluster of bristles, typically disposed in plural tufts containingplural bristles and extending in a bristle direction generallyperpendicular to the longitudinal and width directions. Typically thetip pad is large enough to carry 4-10 tufts of bristles of the typicalsize of toothbrush bristle tufts e.g. tufts of 1-2 mm diameter orgreatest sectional dimension. A suitable arrangement of tufts is apolygon of 5-8 tufts surrounding one or more central tuft.

The bristle carrying surface of the middle section may be substantiallyplanar, or undulating, or may be curved e.g. concavely on the side onwhich the bristles are carried. Preferably the bristle-carrying surfaceof the tip pad may form an angle of 180° or less, e.g. 180°-160° withthe surface, which may also be bristle carrying, of the adjacent part ofthe section closer to the handle, for example with the surface of thefirst link region. Similarly the bristle carrying surface of the lateralsections may be substantially planar, or undulating or may be curvede.g. concavely on the surface on which the bristles are carried.

In a preferred embodiment the tip pad extends longitudinally beyond theends of the lateral sections remotest from the handle, typically for adistance of ca. 15-30%, e.g. 18-25% e.g. 20+/−2% of the length of thetoothbrush head between its base end and tip end. In this way the tippad extends across the entire width of the toothbrush head adjacent tothe tip end, i.e. for at least part of its longitudinal extension thetip pad is not flanked on either of its sides by a lateral section.

Preferably the ratio of the widths of the tip pad and intermediate padare in the range 1:1.5 to 1.5:1, e.g. in the range 1:1.2 to 1.2:1.Preferably the tip pad is wider than the intermediate pad.

The intermediate pad may for example have a length 20-40%, e.g. ca30+/−5% of the length of the toothbrush head between the tip end and thebase end of the head. The intermediate pad is preferably located so that50% or more, particularly preferably 75% or more, even more so 90% ormore, preferably all of its bristle face is in the longitudinal half ofthe head fbrthest from the tip end of the head. For example the widestpart of the intermediate pad may be closer to the base end of the headthan to the tip end of the head, for example 20-40% of the distance fromthe base end of the head toward the tip end of the head.

The tip pad and intermediate pads may have bristle-bearing surfaces ofsubstantially the same area, and/or may have thereon clusters of bristletufts fitting within an envelope of substantially the same area Forexample the bristle-bearing surfaces of the tip pad and intermediate padmay differ by no more than 20% in area.

The intermediate pad may for example be circular, oval or polygonal inplan as viewed down the bristle direction. Typically the intermediatepad is large enough to carry 4-12 tufts of bristles of the typical sizeof toothbrush bristle tufts e.g. tufts of 1-2 mm diameter or greatestdimension cut across the bristle direction. A suitable arrangement oftufts is a polygon of 5-10 tufts surrounding one or more central tuft,for example including 2-4 tufts of bristles in line across theintermediate pad. The first and second link regions may for examplenarrow such that they carry only one tuft of bristles across theirwidth.

The middle section may consequently comprise longitudinally sequentiallya widthways narrow region extending from the base end of the head towardthe tip end of the head from the direction of the handle to comprise thesecond link region and enlarging widthways at a place intermediatebetween the base of the head and the tip pad to form the intermediatepad, a widthways narrow region extending from the intermediate padtoward the tip end of the head from the direction of the handle tocomprise the first link region, and integrally enlarging widthwaysadjacent to the tip end of the head to form such a tip pad.

The junction between the tip pad or the intermediate pad and theadjacent first or second link region is preferably marked by aninflexion point, i.e. a point of sharpest curvature between the pad andlink region as seen in plan looking down along the bristles carried bythe head.

The length of the first link region between the tip pad and theintermediate pad may for example be longer than the length of therespective tip pad or intermediate pad, for example being in the range1-1.5 of the length of the tip pad or intermediate pad.

The second link region is preferably between the intermediate pad andthe base end of the head.

One or more section may be resiliently flexibly connected to the griphandle in various ways.

For example all the sections may be made of a resilient materialintegral with the grip handle of the toothbrush. For example two or moreof the sections may be connected, e.g. integrally, to each other and/orto the toothbrush handle, at a part of the toothbrush remote from thetip end of the head.

Preferably at least one, preferably all, section(s) are connected to thegrip handle by an integral resiliently flexible neck. Such a neck may beflexible, and/or the link between the neck and the section, or betweenthe neck and the handle may be flexible. The resiliently, i.e. springy,flexible neck may be achieved by integral construction with the types ofplastics materials commonly used for toothbrushes.

For example one or more, e.g. all of the sections may be respectivelyconnected to the grip handle by means of a respective flexible neck.Such a neck may extend between the base end of the of the section, i.e.the end of the section remote from the tip end, and an end of the griphandle which is closest to the section. Typically in such a constructioneach section of the head may be connected to the grip handle by arespective neck being an integral extension of the section toward thehandle. Such a neck may be approximately as long as the section, e.g.having a length in the range 0.4-1.5, preferably 0.5-0.75 of the lengthof the head section. Such dimensions are found to provide suitableresilience.

Such necks may have longitudinally parallel widthways adjacent sides.Alternatively and preferably the widthways adjacent sides may taper intheir widthways spacing so as to be spaced apart with an air gap betweenthem at their ends closest to the handle, but such that they, and/or thesections they are connected to are in contact at their ends closest tothe tip. The angle of taper may be 0.5-5°.

There may be a flexible material, e.g. an elastomeric material, e.g. athin flexible web of such a material, between widthways adjacent partsof such necks, e.g. adjacent to the ends of such necks closest to thegrip handle.

Alternatively one or more, e.g. every sections may be flexiblyconnected, e.g. at the base end of the head, to a neck which extends tothe grip handle.

One or more, e.g. all of the sections, may be flexible, for exampleincorporating resiliently flexible links between longitudinally orwidthways adjacent regions of the section, for example between the tippad and the first link region.

The widthways adjacent longitudinally extending sides of the sectionsmay be straight linear or alternatively they may be of a complementaryinterlocking shape, e.g. a complementary sinuous or undulating shape.

Each section may carry bristles, which may for example be disposed inone or more longitudinally extending row of tufts of bristles. Bristlesmay extend in a direction at a perpendicular or non-perpendicular angleto the longitudinal and width directions.

One or more section may be resiliently flexible in a widthways outwardand inward direction. To avoid excessive outward splay of a lateralsection the middle and adjacent lateral section may be provided withabutment parts so that if a lateral section bends outwardly an abutmentpart of the lateral section abuts against an abutment part of the middlesection to limit the extent to which the lateral section can moveoutwardly. For example an enlarged pad comprising the end of the middlesection may have a concavity with an opening facing toward the griphandle and into which an abutment part of a lateral section may fit suchthat a surface of the concavity comprises a corresponding abutment part.

Between widthways adjacent sections there may be an air gap allowingrelative movement of the adjacent sections. Alternatively widthwaysadjacent sections may be in contact, allowing sliding relative movementof the sections, for example in a relative direction perpendicular toboth the longitudinal and widthways directions. There may be a flexiblematerial, e.g. an elastomeric material, e.g. a thin flexible filling orweb of such a material, between widthways adjacent sections.

Preferably at least one section, more preferably all sections, areadapted to carry bristles. For example the section(s) may be providedwith bristle holes into which bristle tufts may subsequently be fixed.Alternatively bristle tufts may be embedded into the section(s) by aknown process in which the ends of the tufts project into a mould cavityin which the section is made by injection moulding.

In a preferred form of the toothbrush of the invention:

all sections carry bristles and are integrally flexibly connected by aneck to the toothbrush handle,

the bristle carrying tip pad adjacent to the tip end of the head has alength of ca. 20-30% of the toothbrush head between its base and tipends,

the tip pad extends longitudinally beyond the ends of the lateralsections remotest from the handle, and extends across the entire widthof the toothbrush head adjacent to the tip end,

the middle section comprises a single intermediate bristle carrying padbeing a region of maximum width of the part of the section between thetip pad and the base end of the head, from which tufts of bristlesextend, and which is located entirely in the longitudinal half of thetoothbrush head closest to the handle, and has a length of ca. 20-40% ofthe toothbrush head between its base and tip ends,

a first link region of the section between the tip pad and theintermediate pad is narrower in width than the adjacent part of the tippad and the intermediate pad,

a second link region of the section between the intermediate pad and theneck is narrower in width than the adjacent part of the intermediatepad,

the bristle carrying surface of the tip pad forming an angle of 180° orless with the surface of the first link region.

As seen in plan looking along the bristle direction the middle sectioncomprising the tip pad, first link region and intermediate padconsequently has a so called “dumb bell” shape.

The preferred construction provides that on the middle section thebristle tufts are concentrated on the tip pad and intermediate pad, e.g.with 60% or more, e.g. 60-80% of the bristle tufts located on the tipand intermediate pads, and the residue of tufts making up to 100% on thelink regions.

In this preferred construction the two pads, i.e. the tip andintermediate pad are longitudinally separated by a distancecorresponding approximately to the surfaces of the teeth, and thereforeprovide improved cleaning efficacy. Such a distance may for example be1-2 cm between the centres of the tip and intermediate pads.

The toothbrush head of this invention may be integrally made of aresiliently flexible plastic material such as polypropylene, polystyreneetc., as well known for toothbrush manufacture. The plastics materialmay be selected to optimise resilience of the section and/or neck andfor example a relatively stiff plastic, e.g. a fibre-reinforced plasticsmaterial, e.g. polyester fibre-reinforced polypropylene, may be used.The section(s) and neck(s) may be integrally made of such plasticmaterial with the grip handle.

The grip handle may be made of a plastic material such as the above, ormay also comprise grip-enhancing parts of an elastomeric material, of agenerally known type.

The invention will now be described by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawings which show:

FIG. 1 Shows a view of a toothbrush head of this invention inperspective underside, side and plan view.

FIG. 2 Shows a view of another toothbrush head of this invention inperspective underside, side and plan view.

FIG. 3 Shows a view of another toothbrush head of this invention inperspective underside, side and plan view.

FIG. 4 Shows a view of a toothbrush head of this invention inperspective, side and plan view.

FIG. 5 Shows a schematic view of a toothbrush head of this invention inplan view.

FIG. 6 shows cross sections through the head of FIG. 5.

Parts numbered as below are shown in these figures:

10 toothbrush overall

11 toothbrush head overall

12 grip handle

13A base end of head

13B tip end of head

14 integral neck region

15 middle section

151 first link region

152 intermediate pad

153 second link region

154 concavity

16, 17 lateral sections

18 tip pad

19 bristle carrying surface of tip pad

20 bristles

21, 22, 23 necks

24 fold line

25 gaps between necks

26 bristle holes

30 elastomeric grip pad

31 elastomer material

Referring to FIG. 1 a toothbrush 10 is shown overall (FIG. 1A), with ahead 11 which is shown overall in a perspective plan view (FIG. 1B)perspective underside view (FIG. 1C), side (FIG. 1D) and plan (FIG. 1E)views. The toothbrush head 11 extends integrally toward a grip handle12, the head 11 and grip handle 12 being disposed along a longitudinaldirection L-L, having a width direction W-W perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction and having a thickness dimension T-T. The head 11has a base end 13A, being the end of the bristle pattern, nearest togrip handle 12 and a tip end 13B. Longitudinally between the base end13A of head 11 and handle 12 is an integral neck region 14.

The head 11 is divided into three widthways adjacent sections 15, 16, 17being a middle section 15 flanked on each widthways side by two lateralsections 16, 17. Each section 15, 16, 17 is elongated parallel to thelongitudinal direction L-L. From a surface of each section 15, 16, 17 ofhead 11 extend bristles 20 in a bristle direction B perpendicular to thewidth direction W-W.

The middle section 15 is widthways enlarged at its end furthest from thehandle 12 i.e. forming a tip pad 18. The surface 19 of tip pad 18 is ofa size suitable to carry a polygonal cluster of tufts of bristles 20.The middle section 15 is enlarged at 152 into a widened part between thepad 18 and the base end, i.e. forming an intermediate pad. The widthwaysadjacent surfaces of the lateral sections 16, 17 are correspondinglyshaped. On the pad 152 tufts of bristles 20 are arranged widthwaysadjacent. FIG. 1D shows that the surfaces of the sections 15, 16, 17from which the bristles 20 extend are gently concave curved in theirlongitudinal direction.

Between the tip pad 18 and intermediate pad 152 is a first link region151, and between the intermediate pad 152 and the base end of the head13 is a second link region 153. The surface 19 of the pad 18 forms anangle of 180° with the surface of the adjacent part of link region 151.

The junction between the base end 13 of the head and the neck 14 as seenin the plan views FIGS. 1B and 1E is distinguished by an inflexion pointof greatest curvature.

The bristles 20 are disposed in discrete tufts. As shown in FIG. 1 thetufts are arranged in rows extending generally widthways across thehead, and rows extending generally longitudinally along each section 15,16 17.

At the base end 13 of the head 11 each of the three sections 15, 16, 17is integrally formed into a respective neck 21, 22, 23 by which thesection is connected to the grip handle 12. Each neck 21, 22, 23 is madeof resiliently flexible plastic material so that the neck 21, 22, 23flexibly and resiliently links its section 15, 16, 17 to the grip handle12. The length of each neck 21, 22, 23 is approximately the same as thelength of the section 15, 16, 17, but may be varied to suitrequirements.

The grip handle 12 is of generally conventional construction and design,and incorporates an elastomeric grip pad 30 introduced into a cavity(not shown) in handle 12 by a conventional process of injectionmoulding.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, alternative constructions of the toothbrush headof this invention are shown.

In FIG. 2 a head similar to that of FIG. 1 is shown enlarged inperspective (FIGS. 2A, 2B), and in underside (FIG. 2C), side (FIG. 2D)and plan (FIG. 2E) views. It is seen that the middle section 15 has awidened intermediate pad 152 occupying the longitudinal half of section15 closer to the handle, and a narrower first link region 151 betweenpad 152 and tip pad 18. Also, which may be independent of other featuresof FIG. 2, the face 19 of pad 18, from which bristles extend, forms anangle less than 180° with the adjacent face of first link region 151. InFIG. 2 the pad 18 is polygonal, approximately pentagonal, in plan. Asecond link region 153 links the intermediate pad 152 to the neck 21.

In FIG. 3 (FIG. 3A perspective plan view, FIG. 3B underside view, FIG.3C side view, FIG. 3D plan view) a similar construction is shown, exceptthat the face 19 of tip pad 18, from which bristles extend is coplanarwith the adjacent first link region 151 from which bristles extend.Again the middle section 15 is widened between the link regions to forman intermediate pad 15B. Also, independently of this, bristle surfaces21 of the lateral section 16, 17 are of undulating shape as viewed inthe width direction W-W.

In FIG. 4 a head similar to that of FIG. 1 is shown enlarged in sideview FIG. 4A, perspective FIG. 4B, and in plan view FIG. 4C. It is seenthat the middle section 15 has an end adjacent to the tip end of thehead integrally enlarged to form a bristle-carrying tip pad 18 whichextends across the entire width of the toothbrush head adjacent to thetip end 13A. This tip pad 18 is generally circular in plan, having inits longitudinal direction a length of ca. 20-30% of the toothbrush headbetween its tip end 13B and its base end 13A.

The tip pad 18 is of a size suitable to carry a polygonal cluster oftufts 20 in the form of a polygonal pattern of tufts around a centraltuft. As seen in FIG. 4A the bristle carrying surface 19 of the tip pad18 forms an angle of less than 180° with the surface of the adjacentfirst link region 152 of the middle section 15 closer to the handle, andthe tip pad 19 extends longitudinally beyond the ends of the lateralsections 16, 17 remotest from the handle.

In the toothbrush head of FIG. 4 the middle section 15 comprises asingle intermediate bristle carrying pad 151 being a region of maximumwidth of the part of the section 15 between the tip pad 18 and the baseend 13A of the head, from which plural tufts of bristles 20 extend,being arranged in a polygonal cluster surrounding two central tufts. Theintermediate pad 151 is oval in plan (except where interrupted by thelink regions to be described) and has an area in plan similar to the tippad 19. The intermediate pad 151 has a length ca. 20-30% of the lengthof the toothbrush head between the tip end 13B and the base end 13A ofthe head. The intermediate pad 151 is located within the longitudinalhalf of the head closest to the handle. The widest part of theintermediate pad 151 is closer to the base end 13 of the head than tothe tip end 13B of the head.

There is an integral first link region 152 between the tip pad 18 andthe intermediate pad 151 being narrower in width than the adjacent partof the tip pad 19 and the intermediate pad 151.

There is a second link region 153 between the intermediate pad 151 andthe base end 13 of the head being narrower in width than the adjacentpart of the intermediate pad 151, and integrally linked to neck 21. Itis seen that there are inflexion points, i.e. of greatest curvature,defining the junctions between the pads 18, 151 and the link regions152, 153. In FIG. 4 each of the link regions 152, 153 is parallel sidedas seen in plan. The length of the first link region 152 between the tippad 18 and the intermediate pad 151 is longer than the length of boththe tip pad 18 and the intermediate pad 151.

It is seen that the majority of the bristle tufts 20 on the middlesection 15 are located on the tip pad 18 and intermediate pad 151, i.e.as seen in FIG. 4C there are ten tufts on the intermediate pad 151,seven tufts on the tip pad 18, and six tufts on the link regions 152,153.

Referring to FIG. 5, this shows in more detail a plan view of apreferred construction of toothbrush head 11 of this invention, withthree sections 15, 16, 17 each of which is integrally linked to arespective neck 21, 22, 23 which is in turn integrally linked to thegrip handle 12, of which the part closest to the head 11 is shown. Itcan be seen that the construction of head is similar to that of FIG. 4,i.e. with the middle section comprising a tip pad 18, an intermediatepad 151, a first link region 152 and a second link region 153. Bristles20 are shown in a non-limiting representative pattern disposed on thesections of head 11.

The surface 19 of tip pad 18 forms an angle less than 180° with theadjacent surface of first link region 152 at the fold line 24. Tip pad18 is approximately circular 7.5 mm in diameter. First link region 151is ca. 9-10 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. Intermediate pad 152 is oval, ca.9-10 mm long and 7-8 mm wide. Second link region 153 is ca. 5-7 mm longand ca. 2-3 mm wide. The thickness of the sections is ca. 3-4 mm. Necks21, 22, 23 are ca. 23-25 mm long and 2-3 mm wide. The lateral necks 22,23 are ca. 3-4 mm thick and middle neck 21 is slightly thicker, ca. 4-5mm. The head 11 is overall of a generally oval shape tapering toward thetip end and has a total length ca. 30-32 mm, and a width at its widestpoint widthways adjacent intermediate pad 152 of ca. 13 mm i.e.conventionally sized. When made in these dimensions of typical plasticsmaterials such as polypropylene, polyamide, ABS, fibre-reinforcedpolypropylene etc. suitable flexibility is achieved.

The gaps 25 between the necks 21, 22, 23 taper toward the tip end 13B,being ca. 0.5-1 mm at the end closest to the handle 12, and taperingsuch that the sections 15, 16, 17 are in sliding contact. Parts of thenecks 21, 22, 23 adjacent to the base end 13A of the head 11 may also bein sliding contact. The handle 12 also incorporates an elastomeric grippad 30, and the flexible elastomer material 31 extends into the gaps 25adjacent to the handle 12.

It is seen in FIGS. 1-5 that as seen in plan view the outer envelope ofthe head 11 shows a shallow concavity at 154 longitudinally distancedfrom the tip end 13B, of a shape designed such that if pad 18 contacts atooth surface and moves longitudinally in the base-tip direction a toothor other oral tissue surface is unlikely to catch in the gap between thetip pad 18 and section 16 or 17, e.g. to thereby force the sections 15,16, 17 apart. A smooth transition in this area of the envelope isdesirable for this reason.

Referring to FIG. 6, a cross section through the head 11 of FIG. 5 isshown, cut at line A-A of FIG. 5. It is seen how the bristles 20 are setin bristle holes 26 in the sections 15, 16, 17 or otherwise moulded intothe head in a conventional manner. It is seen how under the action ofpressure on the bristle, shown by the arrow, experienced duringtoothbrushing, the sections 15, 16, 17 can move resiliently out of aplane parallel to the longitudinal and width directions. In FIG. 6 thegap between the sections 15, 16, 17 is shown exaggerated for clarity,the sections 15,16,17 actually being in contact allowing relativesliding movement between widthways adjacent segments.

1. A toothbrush head, being connected or connectable at its base end toa toothbrush grip handle to thereby define a head-handle longitudinaldirection, and comprising three widthways adjacent, longitudinallyextending sections from which bristles extend, being a middle sectionand a lateral section on each widthways side of the middle section, oneor more section being resiliently flexibly connected or connectable tothe grip handle, characterised in that: the end of the middle sectionadjacent to the tip end of the head is integrally widthways enlargedrelative to the part of the middle section longitudinally adjacentnearer to the handle to provide a bristle-carrying pad adjacent to thetip end of the head and which extends across the entire width of thetoothbrush head adjacent to the tip end, the middle section comprises anintermediate bristle-carrying pad, being a region of maximum width ofthe part of the middle section between the tip pad and the base end ofthe head, with a first link region of the section between the tip padand the intermediate pad being narrower in width than the adjacent partof the tip pad and the intermediate pad, and a second link region of thesection between the intermediate pad and the handle being narrower inwidth than the adjacent part of the intermediate pad.
 2. A toothbrushhead according to claim 1 characterised by only three sections, being amiddle section and two lateral sections.
 3. A toothbrush head accordingto claim 1 characterised in that two or more, of the sections areresiliently flexibly connected to the grip handle so that the sectionmay be resiliently bent out of a plane parallel to the longitudinal andwidth directions under the action of pressure on the bristles.
 4. Atoothbrush head according to claim 1 characterised by only oneintermediate pad, only one first link region and only one second linkregion.
 5. A toothbrush head according claim 1 characterised in that inits longitudinal direction the tip pad has a length of ca. 10-50% of thetoothbrush head between its base and tip ends.
 6. A toothbrush headaccording to claim 1 characterised in that the bristle carrying surfaceof the tip pad forms an angle of 180°-160° with the surface of theadjacent part of the surface of the first link region.
 7. A toothbrushhead according to claim 1 characterised in that the tip pad extendslongitudinally beyond the ends of the lateral sections remotest from thehandle for a distance of ca. 15-30% of the length of the toothbrush headbetween its base end and tip end.
 8. A toothbrush according to claim 1characterised in that the intermediate pad has a length 20-40% of thelength of the toothbrush head between the tip end and the base end ofthe head.
 9. A toothbrush head according claim 1 characterised in thatthe intermediate pad is located so that 50% or more of its bristle faceis in the longitudinal half of the head furthest from the tip end of thehead.
 10. A toothbrush head according to claim 9 characterised in thatthe intermediate pad is located so that all of its bristle face is inthe longitudinal half of the head furthest from the tip end of the head.11. A toothbrush head according to claim 1 characterised in that themiddle section comprises longitudinally sequentially a widthways narrowregion extending from the base end of the head toward the tip end of thehead from the direction of the handle to comprise the second link regionand enlarging widthways at a place intermediate between the base of thehead and the tip pad to form the intermediate pad, a widthways narrowregion extending from the intermediate pad toward the tip end of thehead from the direction of the handle to comprise the first link region,and integrally enlarging widthways adjacent to the tip end of the headto form such a tip pad.
 12. A toothbrush head according to claim 1characterised in that the second link region is between the intermediatepad and the base end of the head.
 13. A toothbrush head according toclaim 1 characterised in that widthways adjacent sections are in contactallowing sliding relative movement of the sections.
 14. A toothbrushhaving a head according to claim 1 characterised in that one or moresection is resiliently flexibly connected to the grip handle of thetoothbrush.
 15. A toothbrush according to claim 14 characterised in thatone or more section is connected to the grip handle by an integralresiliently flexible neck.
 16. A toothbrush according to claim 15characterised in that all of the sections are respectively connected tothe grip handle by means of a respective flexible neck which extendsbetween the base end of the of the section and an end of the grip handlewhich is closest to the section.
 17. A toothbrush according to claim 16characterised in that each section of the head is connected to the griphandle by a respective neck being an integral extension of the sectiontoward the handle, and the neck has a length in the range 0.4-1.5 of thelength of the head section.
 18. A toothbrush according to claim 16characterised in that the widthways adjacent sides taper in theirwidthways spacing so as to be spaced apart with an air gap between themat their ends closest to the handle, but such that they, and/or thesections they are connected to are in contact at their ends closest tothe tip.
 19. A toothbrush according to claim 17 characterised by anelastomeric material between widthways adjacent parts of necks.
 20. Atoothbrush according to claim 14 characterised in that: all sectionscarry bristles and are integrally flexibly connected by a neck to thetoothbrush handle, the bristle carrying tip pad adjacent to the tip endof the head has a length of ca. 20-30% of the toothbrush head betweenits base and tip ends, the tip pad extends longitudinally beyond theends of the lateral sections remotest from the handle, and extendsacross the entire width of the toothbrush head adjacent to the tip end,the middle section comprises a single intermediate bristle carrying padbeing a region of maximum width of the part of the section between thetip pad and the base end of the head, from which tufts of bristlesextend, and which is located entirely in the longitudinal half of thetoothbrush head closest to the handle, and has a length of ca. 20-40% ofthe toothbrush head between its base and tip ends, a first link regionof the section between the tip pad and the intermediate pad is narrowerin width than the adjacent part of the tip pad and the intermediate pad,a second link region of the section between the intermediate pad and theneck is narrower in width than the adjacent part of the intermediatepad, the bristle carrying surface of the tip pad forming an angle of180° or less with the surface of the first link region.
 21. A toothbrushaccording to claim 20 characterised in that the tip and intermediate padare longitudinally separated by a distance 1-2 cm between the centres ofthe tip and intermediate pads.
 22. A toothbrush head according to claim1 made of a fibre-reinforced plastics material.
 23. A toothbrush headaccording to claim 22 made of polyester fibre-reinforced polypropylene.